S. Sudan rival factions trade accusation over clashes in W. Bahr el Ghazal
December 7, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese rival forces have traded accusations over renewed fighting in several places in the country, despite ongoing preparations to receive an advance team of the armed opposition leadership in support of implementing the peace agreement signed in August by the parties to end the 21-month long conflict.
“Generally the overall security situation is calm except in Western Bahr el Ghazal and Eastern Equatoria State where we have received reports of some armed groups carrying out banditry activities. There are groups in Western Bahr el Ghazal who stops vehicles to loot and kill passengers along Wau- Tambura road. The SPLA forces in the responded and the situation there is under control now”, said Aguer.
“The SPLA forces have also been deployed on Juba-Nimule road and on Nimule –Torit road and Juba –Bor road. Other forces have been deployed along Yei-Juba road and Juba-kajokeji road”, he added.
The South Sudanese army official, however, denied allegations that pro-government troops attacked a designated assembling area of the armed opposition forces around Bazia town in Western Bahr el Ghazal state, stressing that it was instead the opposition forces in the area involved in banditry activities and tactics to gain more territories.
“What is reported by some media that our forces in Western Bahr el Ghazal have attacked the cantonment of the SPLM-IO forces around Bazia is a twist of events. These reports which are quoting the rebels claiming that our forces have attacked the position of their forces in Bazia which is under control are misleading. How can we attack an area under our control?” asked Aguer.
He said Bazia was not a designated assembling area for the opposition forces and that any attempt to move there without agreement amounts to attacking the area with intention to occupying it.
“These are misleading reports. It is the rebels who are carrying out banditry activities. They made attempt to attack Bazia with intention to loot the town but their plan was foiled. Our forces intercepted their plan and pushed them back because there is no other way”, explained the army spokesperson.
Several opposition figures have denied reports that their forces initiated the attack on goverment forces and have instead accused the goverment of carrying out unprovoked attacks on designated places earmarked as assemblying points for their forces.
Tingo Peter, leading armed opposition figure in the area, separately told Sudan Tribune that he received reports from commanding officers that their positions came under attack from government troops over the weekend and that clashes were continuing.
“The attacked our forces in the assembling area on Saturday but they were repulsed. They returned again on Sunday and they were also pushed away. Our forces fought back in self-defense because they have been instructed to not engage in combat operation except in self-defense when they are attacked because of our commitment to respecting permanent ceasefire which our chairman had declared, said Tingo.
He added, “We are committed to peace. This is why our delegation will soon travel to Juba”.
Last week, the head of the United Nations peacekeepers warned of the “fragile” nature of South South’s peace agreement as the country prepares to have in place the Transitional Government of National Unity.
(ST)